China is also no longer hesitant to send its aircraft carrier group through narrow straits in the southernmost Nansei Islands to conduct drills.

As Trump's second administration comes to a start, experts speculate on what it could mean for U.S. relations with Japan and China.

Analysts think Ishiba aims to leverage China’s influence for Japan’s gain, but some fear this could weaken the Washington-Tokyo alliance.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has begun a tour of Malaysia and Indonesia as part of his effort to further strengthen defense and economic ties with Southeast Asia as threats from China rise in the region.

The trip gave the impression that Japan’s relations with China were on the mend. Iwaya indicated that Japan would be open to hosting a Japan-China-South Korea Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in early 2025,

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday he wants to work closely with new U.S. President Donald Trump to elevate the long

China remains as Japan's largest trading partner, with over 13,000 Japanese companies operating in the country. Iwaya emphasized that supporting the activities of Japanese private enterprises remains a key priority, and Japan seeks to advance its relationship with China in a constructive manner.

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was in Malaysia and met with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Friday to strengthen defense and economic ties with Southeast Asian countries as China’s threats grow in the region.

Japan, the Philippines and the United States vowed to further deepen cooperation under a trilateral arrangement in the face of rising tensions in Asia's waters, the three countries said following a call among their leaders.

China may be a step closer to reopening its doors to Japanese seafood imports after Beijing signalled it was keen to strengthen trade in food and agricultural products. Meeting his Japanese counterpart Taku Eto in Beijing on Friday,

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The leaders of Japan and Laos agreed Tuesday to upgrade their bilateral relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," as Tokyo tries to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asia to uphold a rules-based order amid China's rise.

In the monthly poll conducted by this newspaper, the approval rating for Ishiba's cabinet was 46% right after its launch in October of last year, but it dropped to 31% in November and 30% in December, further declining this month.